When students take classes

Teachers’ Day is when Class XII students of Kendriya Vidyalaya turn teachers for a day

Teachers’ Day is eagerly awaited by all Class XII students of Kendriya Vidyalaya branches everywhere. Because this is one day in our school life when we get to play teacher.

Till the very last moment before the day arrived, there was hectic activity in the staff room, with teachers’ duties being assigned, and timetables and study plans being drawn up for us, the senior-most students, .

The heavy downpour on D-day could have been a turn-off but for our determination to make the most of the day.

Most of us girls had come dressed in elegant saris (belonging to our respective mothers, of course) and some in salwar kurtas (belonging to us). The boys looked very mature in formalwear. It could not be known if the perfectly knotted ties belonged to them or their fathers. Students of other classes were running around, presenting roses and other gifts to their round-the-year teachers.

Finally it was time for us to take classes. All the student-teachers marched off to their assigned rooms. Not all of us would have a good time, since the slightly older students, from classes 6 to 11, like to give the student-teachers a hard time. Thanks to our lucky stars, my friend and I had been assigned Class I. It was such a delight to see those smiling tots rush about, dance, sing and bring their drawings to us.

After 10.30am, it was time for the student-teachers to get our cultural programme ready for presentation to the teachers. But as they say, if you’re too involved in something, either nothing goes wrong or everything goes wrong. I guess it was the latter for us. Let’s just say, we have yet to learn a lot about conducting programmes.

But this article shouldn’t give the readers the impression that our programme flopped. It was meant to be a tribute to all teachers out there and it was meant to be about the lessons we learnt — how to be a teacher, but most of all how it feels to be a teacher.

The high point of my day was when a little girl came up to me, took me aside and gave me a toffee — something so simple that it will remind me forever that a child, somewhere, looks up to me and will remember me. It was a terrific feeling and I can only imagine our teachers feeling this emotion everyday with so many students looking up to them.

As I left for home, I inwardly bowed to all my teachers and my parents, who teach us the greatest lessons of life, for always being there for us.